Coal loader



A. HAUGE kApril 11, 1933.

COAL LOADER awww@ mm @QCS Filed Deo April 11, 1933.

A. HAUGE COAL LOADER Filed Deo. '7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. HAUGE April l1, 1933.

COAL LOADER 7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deo.

Q13H Il Il H il ll Il H H Il l1 H Il H H H H Mr- J3 Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES ANDREW I-IA'UGE, OF MIGHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY! PATENT erstes COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS COAL LOADER Application iled December 7, 19.29. Serial No. 412,469.

This invention relates to improved mechanism for loading loose material. More particularly, my invention relates to an improved gathering mechanism for cooperating with conveying mechanism in a loading machine.

@ne object of my invention is to provide an improved loading machine for use in gathering loose materials and conveying the same to a pre-determined place of delivery. A f urther object of my invention is te provide improved gathering mechanism for ay leading machine. A still further object of my invention is to provide a gathering lmechanism which will move loose material to-ward a conveyor, provision being made in the arrangement of parts so that if the material will not yield, the gathering means will give way and not be broken. A more specilic object of my invention is to provide mechanism,

Which, in one arrangement ofthe parts, is adapted to gather loose material and move the same towards a conveyor; and, in another arrangement of the parts, is adapted to loosen material which is lodged in its position and not easily gathered. Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the ensuing description, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have disclosed one illustrative embodiment of my invention,-

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a loading machine in which my invention has been incorporated, the conveying mechanisms and the truck on which the same are mounted being shown more or less diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine show in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the loading 4c machine passing longitudinally along the middle line of the front conveyor and taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the rear conveyor and the rear portion of the truck vbeing broken away.

Fig. lis a vertical transverse .section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing merely the gathering mechanism and the front portion of the gathering conveyor, the orbit of the point of the gathering blade or tool being shown in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the gath-` ering means arranged to dislodge standing coal. f f

through one end of the gathering mechanism taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that I have disclosed herein merely an illustrative embodiment of my invention; and that many modifications of the precise disclosures given herein are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is not limited to the par-y ticular arrangement of conveyors as disclosed herein; nor are the track laying mechanisms essential'to certain features of my invention. It will be obvious, in view of the following disclosure, that other changes or rearrangements of the parts are. possible in applyin g the invention to various conditions arising in the use of the same.

For purposes of illustration the drawings show a loading machine of a well known type having a main frame 10 mounted on track provided with a casing which constitutes the major portion of the forward partof the frame 10. A bevel pinion 16 is keyed to the front end of the motor .shaft and meshes with a bevel gear 17 (see Fig. le) keyed to a transverse shaft 18. A friction clutch 19 surrounds shaft 18 within the huh 20 formed on the gear 17 and a spring 19a tends to apply or load the clutch. Clutch shifting mechanism 21 is provided for actuating the shipper Fig. 7 is a fragment-ary sectional view sol erally indicated by the numeral 35.

yoke 22, so that the interleaved discs of the clutch 19 may be .separated or allowed to be pressed into engagement with each other. The driven member of the clutch is secured to a sleeve 24 rotatably carried by the shaft 18. The other end of the sleeve carries a pinion 23 which is secured thereto by a key; and a spur gear 25, meshing with the pinion 23, is keyed at 26 to a sleeve 27, extending transversely of the main frame of the load'- ing machine, and rotatably mounted in bearings 95 and 96. A pair of sprockets 28, 28 is keyed to the sleeve 27 at spaced points, so as to engage the side chains 29, 29 of the gathering conveyor 31. Only the lower flight of the gathering conveyor is engaged by the sprockets 28, the upper flight traveling over a. plate 30.

A shaft 105 exten-ds through the sleeve 27 and carries at its outer ends a pair of sprockets 32, 32 fixed thereto by keys 106, 106. Chains 33 (see Fig. 7) extend forwardly within the hollow pivoted members or arms 34 to drive the gathering mechanism, glerlie shaft 105 is rotatable relative to the sleeve 27; and although driven in common therewith from the spur gear 25, may be rotated in the opposite direction from sleeve 27 by reversing mechanism now to be described. A smaller gear 107 may be formed on the hub of gear or if made separate therefrom, as shown in Fig. 8, is keyed thereto. A short shaft 108 is mounted in the casing 113, which is carried on the side of the main frame of the loader for enclosing the reversing gearing. A pair of gears 109 and 110 are mounted on shaft 108; and of this pair, the gear 109 is driven through an intermediate gear 114 which meshes with the gear 107. The pair of gears 109, 110 are locked together for rotation in unison in the same direction as sleeve 27. The second gear of the pair, namely gear 110, meshes with a gear 111, which is journaled on shaft 105, being driven by the train of gears 114, 109, 110 in the reverse direction. A dental clutch member 112 is splined to the shaft 105; and this clutch may be operated by a suitable shipper mechanism not .shown in full) to alternatively connect gear 111 or gear 107 to the shaft 105 to drive the latter. Through this dental clutch member 112, the direction of drive of the gathering mechanism 35 may be reversed without reversing l the motor 15.

A clutch 36 also surrounds the shaft 18, and is shown to the right'of the gear 17 in Fig. 4. Mechanism 37 is provided for actuating the clutch by means of a shipper yoke 38. The driven member of the clutch is secured to a sleeve 39 rotatably mounted on the shaft 18. The other end of the sleeve 39 carries a pinion 40 which is secured toi the sleeve by a key 41. A central bearing in the main frame is provided at 18a for the shaft 18; and laterally spaced bearings 18h, 18'J rotatably support the sleeves 24 and 39 which in turn support the two ends of the shaft 18. The pinion 40 meshes with a spur gear 42 rotatably mounted on the shaft 105, a hub member 43 formed as a. sprocket being secured to the spur gear 42 to provide the mounting whereby this gear may rotate relative to the shaft 105. As indica-ted in Fig. 1, a chain 44 extends from the sprocket 43 to a similar sprocket (not shown) mounted on a transverse shaft 45. A pair of pinions are secured to the shaft 45, one of them being shown at 46 in Fig. 1. A cooperating arcuate rack 47 is secured to each arm 34; and when the clutch 36 is shifted to cause rotation of the sleeve 39, the rack and pinion mechanism 46, 47 elevates the pair of arms 34, 34. A pawl or dog 115 is adapted to engage the teeth on the spur gear 42, when swung downwardly by the operating handle 116. By means of the dog or pawl, the arms 34 may be locked in different elevated positions. The topmost teeth 117 of the racks 47 are made large to prevent the pinions 46 running out of mesh with the racks. Vhen the loading machine is on reasonably level ground, however, there is generally no possibility of the arms dropping low enough to bring the pinions 46 into engagement with the teeth 117 since the tool 54 rests on the material being gathered, or on the ground.

rlhe plate 30 is part of a shovel or nose piece 48. A transverse shaft 49 is provided at the front end of the plate 30 having idler sprockets at its ends around which the side chains 29 of the gathering conveyor 31 are directed. Forwardly of these sprockets, there is a digging plate 50 which is concave to cooperate with the orbit of movement of the gathering tool 54.

As shown in Fig. 7, the arms 34 are hollow so as to enclose the chains 33 which extend to the front end of the arms. These chains 33 drive the gathering mechanism by means of a pair of sprockets, one of which is shown at 51 in Fig. 7. Each sprocket 51 is keyed to a stub shaft 52 journaled in suit able bearings in the spaced sides of the corresponding arm 34. Each stub shaft 52 is integral with a disc member 53, the axis of the shaft 52 coincidingwith the axis of the disc 53 merely for the purpose of better balance when the gathering mechanism is actuated. It is Obvious that a. counterbalance may be provided to take care of the weight olthe gathering tool if this be found desira e.

The gathering tool 54 is made to include a transverse bracing member or bar 55, and a plate 56 extending substantially equal amounts to the two sides of the bracing member 55. In Fig. 5, it will be noted that the lower edge of the plate 56 is sharpened to facilitate digging into the material which is to be gathered. It vwill further benoted that the strengthening webs 57 and 58 extend in opposite directions from the bar to provide a support for the plate 56. rThe webs 57 are sharpened so as to facilitate digging into the material which is to be gathered. The two ends of the bracing member 55 are made cylindrical, as at 59, so as to provide journals which are mounted in bearings 60 within the discs 53. For convenience, one portion 61 of each bearing is made removable and is secured in place by bolts 62. A shaft or rod 63 extending across the top of the gathering tool reinforces the webs 58. The ends of the rod 63 provide journals for the links 64 which connect the upper portion of the gathering mechanism 54 with reciprocating members 65.

It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the forward portion of each reciprocating member 65 is ring-shaped so as to surround an yeccentric 66 formed integral with the disc 53. So when the chains 33 rotate the sprockets 51, the eccentrics 66 cause the members 65 to reciprocate. Motion of the member 65 is determined by the eccentric 66 and by a link 67 which is pivoted at 68 to the member 65 and at 69 to a pin fiXedly secured in the arm 34. A Cotter pin 70 is provided to prevent separation of the link 67 from the pin. The inner end of the member 65 is formed with a slot k71 Vwithin which a block 72 is adapted to slide. Such sliding movement is normally prevented by a pin 73 which confines the block 7 2 to the inner end of the slot 71. The pin 73 may be slid upwardly high enough to release the block 72 but a chain 74 prevents complete removal. In order to raise the pin 73, a chain 75 flexibly connects the pin to one arm 76 of a bell crank lever, the remaining structure of which will now be described. A transverse rod or shaft 77 is journaled in the side arms 34, 34 and passes through a hollow stiffening member 78, which connects the two arms to make the same more rigid. As shown in Fig. 1, the left hand end of the rod 77 is provided with an upstanding arm 79 to which is connected a flexible element 80 eX- tending rearwardly to a position adjacent the other controls of the mining machine.

The operator standing at such a position may haul rearwardly on the chain 80, and by turning the rod 77 vlift the arms 76 so as to elevate the chain 75. The block 72 provides a bearing 82 for a pin 81 mounted in the adjacent end of link 64 (see Fig. 7 lt is obvious therefore, that so long as the block 72 is held by the pin 73 against movement relative to the reciprocating member 65, reciprocatory motion is transmitted through the link 64 to the upper portion of the gathering tool 54. If, however, the pin 73 be lifted, the block 72 is free to slide in the slot 71; and during the ensuing oscillation of the eccentric 66, the block 72 will pass rearwardly within the slot 71, and the link 64 will then assume the position shown in Fig. 6. The operator then releases the chain 80, so that the pin may drop into its normal position so as to again confine the block 72 to its forward position.

Before describing the operation of the loading machine and gathering mechanism, it will be necessary to briefly refer to certain of the parts of the loading machine. rlhe gathering conveyor 31 has already been mentioned and also the transverse shaft 49 having idler sprockets for guiding the chains 29 at the front end of the gathering conveyor. The rear end of this conveyor is similarly directed about a shaft 83 having idler sprockets, said shaft being made adjustable by means of a block and screw device 84 which constitutes a take-up mechanism for conveyor 31. It will further be noted that the nose piece or shovel 48 is pivoted at 85 and is provided with one or more hooks 86. A projection, or suitable device such as an eye member, is carried by the adjacent arm 34; and each hook may be swung into engagement with this projection or device on the arm 34, so that by raising these arms the shovel 48 may be lifted off the bottom or floor. rlhe arms 34 may be locked in different elevated positions, in the manner already described. The nose piece or shovel 48 is so mounted on the main frame that it cannot swing sidewise relative thereto; and, therefore, when the driving mechanism for the treads 11 is suitably controlled to guide the main frame, the nose piece 48 is properly directed toward the material to be gathered.

A rear or tail conveyor 87 is carried by the rear end of the frame 10, and is mounted thereon to pivot about a vertical axis. One of the rollers for assisting in this pivotal movement is shown at 88. The rear portion 89 of the tail conveyor is pivoted at 90, so

that it may be tilted to different elevations. Arcuate racks 91 and pinions 92 meshing therewith are provided for actuating the portion 89, to elevate or lower the same. The pinions 92 may, if desired, be driven through suitable driving connections from the rear end of the motor 15; but for the sake of simplifying the mechanism, l may support a separate motor below the tail conveyor 87 and drive the pinions 92 from this motor. Springs 93 are connected between the main portion of the tail conveyor and the pivoted portion 89 thereof, so as to take up a portion of the dead weight of the pivoted portion 89. In F ig. 2, there is shown a chain 94 directed about an arcuate member carried by the frame of conveyor 87. A. pinion (not shown) which meshes with chain 94 may be driven from the same motor which drives the pinions 92, so as to cause the tail conveyor to swing about its vertical axis.

The operation of the loading machine, and

more particularly of the gathering mechanism, will now be described. `The arms 34 are raised so that the gathering mechanism will clear the material being worked upon, the arms being locked in raised position by the pawl 115 if desired; and then the loading machine is advanced so as to force the shovel 48 into the loose material. The clutch 19 is actuated by mechanism 21 to cause the gathering mechanism to be driven through chains 33; and the arms Si are then lowered by permitting spur gear 42 to rotate, so that the gathering tool engages the loose material, the drive of the tread mechanisms 11 being 15 set at slow speed so as to force the shovel under the loose material as the same is gathered onto the gathering conveyor. The spur gear 4:2 is not positively driven to lower the arms 34; and, in fact, it is preferable to use the clutch 36 as a friction control during lowering. Moreover, during operation of the gathering mechanism, the operator may constantly control the extent to which the gathering mechanism bears down on the material by slightly applying the clutch 36 to take up a portion of the weight of the mechanism.

The gathering conveyor' 31 delivers the material over its rear end and onto the forward portion of the tail conveyor 87. Due to the chain 94, the tail conveyor may be swung laterally so as to deliver the material into a mine car or to a conveyor, or in general to any point within the radius of its swing. It

is also to be noted that the portion 89 of the tail conveyor may be elevated or lowered so as to deliver coal to mine cars or other receptacles at different heights.

The operation of the gathering tool itself is easily understood from Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In F ig. 5, the orbit through which the point of thel tool travels is shown in dotted lines. The bar 55, of course, moves counter-clockwise in a circle since the ends 59 are mounted to rotate about the axis of the shaft 52. he reciprocating members 65 transmit their motion through links 64 to the cross bar 63; and the eccentric 66 is so disposed with respect to the bearing 60 that the digging edge of the plate 56 moves towards the loose material and downwardly, followed by a rearward raking movement to rake or scrape the material up the plate 50 onto the gathering conveyor 41. The edge then rises out of engagement with the material and passes forwardly to again go through the same orbit. The exact orbit disclosed is merely illustrative; and since it has been discovered that slight changes in the positions of the bearings cause the shape of the orbit to be changed, applicant does not desire to be limited to a gathering mechanism whose gathering tool moves in exactly this orbit. It is, however, of material advantage to have the tool advanced edgewise towards the material, then brought down- 05 wardly and swung about pivots 59 so that the tool approaches a vertical position (which is advantageous in raking the loose material rearwardly and onto the conveyor), and then moved bodily rearwardly.

The gathering mechanism may be arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 6, when it is desired to dislodge material which is wedged between the floor and roof of a mine or which, for some other reason, is not easily gathered. As has been previously explained, the withdrawal of the pin 73 upwardly permits the block 72 to move rearwardly so that the shaft 63 may pass dead center and assume the position shown in Fig. 6. This brings the block 72 into the forward position again, so that the pin 78 can again drop into place. The direction of drive of the chains 33 is reversed by the reversing mechanism; and the edge of the plate 56 is now moved in the orbit shown in dotted lines. The plate 56 is first shoved into the material, and then elevated, and then the bar 63 drops so as to bring the plate towards a vertical position. The digging edge then drops so as to bring the plate 56 into position to start the cycle of operations all over again. It will be noted that in this cycle, the digging edge is forced into the material and then lifts upward to dislodge the same; and the material is very quickly loosened so that normal gathering procedure may be resumed.

An important feature of my invention is the use of such a gathering tool on the forward ends of a pair of gathering arms. This provides a pivotal mounting of the gathering mechanism, so that if the material is so wedged in, or in such large lumps that it will not move, the gathering mechanism is free to swing about the pivotal mounting of the arms and the strains are insuliicient to cause breakage. Were the gathering mechanism rigidly mounted, either the motor would be stalled, the entire loading machine lifted olf its treads, or breakage of some part or parts caused. The material which' is raked or scraped rearwardly is carried by the gathering conveyor 31 rearwardly and deposited on the tail conveyor 87, which carries the same to the discharge point, which may be easily adjusted by power as has been previously described.

It will be obvious therefore, that I have provided an improved gathering mechanism which not only gathers the material being worked upon, but also is adapted to dislodge the same if it is wedged or difficult to gather. I also have provided a machine which is flexible, and which is not readily subject to breakage and one which operates to load coal in an eliicient manner.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention `may be modified and embodied in various lother forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In loading apparatusof the character described, the combination with conveying means, ot a broad long gathering member pivoted on a horizontal transverse axis and having a digging edge, said axis extending lengthwise of said member, means for bodily moving said member to carry said axis through an orbit, and means for positively oscillating said member about its axis of pivoting during the bodily movement of said member including a link pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said gathering member at a point remote from the digging edge of said member and between the points of pivotal support of said member, and means cooperating with the other end of the link for supporting said end, guiding the same for movement in a relatively flat path, and imparting to said end longitudinal thrusts and retractions.

2. In a loading machine, the combination of'a portable base, supporting means pivoted to said base on a horizontal axis, a broad long gathering member having a digging edge, and supporting, moving and oscillating means for said gathering member including means for supporting and bodily moving said member to which said member is pivotally supported described, the combination with conveying means, of a pair of rotatable members roat points adjacent its opposite ends upon an axis parallel to said horizontal axis and which is operative to move said member to cause its axis of pivotal support to traverse an orbit, and means pivotally connected to said gathering member at a point remote from its digging edge and between the points of support of said member for positively oscillating said member about its axis of pivoting, and means for moving said supporting means about its axis of pivoting.

3. In loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with conveying means, of a rotatable member, a gathering element carried by said member and pivoted with respect thereto on an axis parallel to but offset from the axis of rotation of said member, a pair of members pivotally connected together, one of said members being pivotally connected to said rotatable member on an axis offset from its axis of rotation, and the other being connected to said gathering element to oscillate the same, and means for constraining the pivotal connection between said pair of pivotally connected members to movement in a predetermined path.

4. In loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with conveying means, of a rotatable member, a gathering element carried by said member for orbital movement and pivoted with respect thereto on an axis parallel to but offset from the axis of rotation of said member, said axis of pivoting extending lengthwise of said member, means for oscillating said element about its axis of pivoting including a member movable toward and from the axis of rotation of said rotatable member and pivotally connected to said gathering element on an axis offset from its axis of pivoting, actuating means for said oscillating member, and means selectively operable at will for connecting said actuating means to said oscillating member or for releasing oney from the other to permit the pivotal connection between said gathering member and said oscillating member to move past dead center.

Y5. Gathering mechanism comprising a gathering member pivoted on a horizontal transverse axis, said axis extending lengthwise of said member, means for bodily moving said member to carry said axis through an orbit, link means movable toward and from said axis and pivotally connected to said gathering member on an axis offset from its axis of pivoting for oscillating said member about its axis of pivoting, actuating means for said link means, and means selec-` tively operable at will for connecting said actuating means to said link means or for releasing one from the other to permit the pivotal connection between said gathering member and said link means to move past dead center.

6. In loading apparatus of the character tatedat the same angular rates, a gathering element supported transversely of said conveying means by said members and pivoted with respect thereto on an axis parallel to vbut Aotfset from the axis of rotation of said members, a plurality of pairs of members, each pair of such members being pivotally connected together and one of each pair being pivotally connected to one of said rotatable members on an axis oiiset from its axis of rotation, the other being connected to said gathering element to oscillate the same, and means Jfor constraining the pivotal connections between the members individual to each of id pairs'to movement in a predetermined pa 7 In loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with conveying Tio 'its axis of pivoting, actuating means for said link means, and means selectively operable at will for connecting said actuating means to said linkmeans or for releasing one from the other to permit the pivotal connection between said gathering member and said link means to move past dead center.

8. In gathering mechanism for loading appar'atus, the combination of a gathering tool,

lateral pivotal supports for said tool, means for moving said pivotal supports 1n a circular orbit, an actuating member pivotally A,tal axis4 and bodily moved orbitallyby said supports, and means pivoted to said tool for 'oscillating said tool about its axis of swiveling, said means having a releasable element for permitting the pivot between said tool and said means to pass to the opposite side of a horizontal plane including the tool axis.

10. In loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with conveying means, of a gathering tool, actuating means 'supporting and actuating said tool, said tool being swiveled to said actuating means and moved bodily thereby through an orbit, and means including a link pivoted to said tool for oscillating said tool about its axis of swiveling, said means including a releasable part for permitting the pivot between said link and tool to pass dead center.

11. In loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with conveying means, of a gathering element adapted to cooperate with said conveying means, actuating means or supporting and actuating said element having swivel connections therewith, one at each side of said conveying means, said gathering element being moved bodily through an orbit by said actuating means, and means for oscillating said gathering element including a member having two pivotal connections, one of which connects Vsaid member to said gathering element and the other of which comprises a releasable part whereby said pivotal connection between said gathering element and said member may pass dead center.

12. In a loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with convey- Aing means, of a pair of movable supports,

means for moving the supports at like rates about a common axis, a gathering tool swiveled to said supports and orbitally moved on rotation of the latter on said axis, a member pivotally connected to the tool at a point offset from its axis of swiveling, means to which said member is pivotally connected for positively moving the latter to effect oscillation of the tool about its axis of swiveling, and means for releasing said last mentioned pivotal connection to permit passage of the pivotal connection between the member and l" the tool to opposite sides of a plane including the axis of swiveling of the tool and the pivotal axis of connection between said member and its moving means.

13. In a loading apparatus of the character described, the combination with conveying means, of a gathering tool having a digging edge, a support rotatable on a horizontal axis and to which said gathering tool is pivotally connected on a parallel axis, means' for rotating said support to move said gathering tool about the axis of rotation of the support, and mechanism pivotally connected with said tool for modifying the movement of its cutting edge and positionable selectively to maintain said cutting edge either wholly above or wholly below the pivotal connection between said tool and said rotatable support throughout the complete orbital movement of the tool.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREW HAUGE. 

